Comments on: How do you help someone having panic attacks?

By: Richard R

Richard R — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:01:59 +0000

Meds might be ok to break the initial cycle of anxiety or panic but long term it might be worth considering something more gentle.

My mum suffered with anxiety and panic attacks last year but was determined not to just rely on drugs from the doctor. She and my dad researched loads of anxiety self help books and courses but she had the most success with the Linden Method which provided some unique techniques and help for panic attacks. You can read about it here http://www.lindenmethod.com/pages/anxietyadvice.
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http://www.lindenmethod.com/pages/anxietyadvice

By: Seng

Seng — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:37:59 +0000

Hey everyone,

I have Panic disorder for more than 12 years already and my condition has been improving a lot! My medication started from 20mg per day till just 10mg on alternate days (or just 5mg per day) – I even thought of quitting medication. I also realized that there are many others who have Panic Attacks out there and I decided to reach out and help them.

So I have started a blog to give free panic attack tips and techniques that have helped me for all these years:
http://PanicAttackResearch.blogspot.com

I do hope it will help you all =)

With Regards,
Seng
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By: madisontaylor1

madisontaylor1 — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:51:59 +0000

The best way to answer this question is by answering from personal experience. I had panic attacks for 7 years and in the beginning tried to ignore them and hope they would get better. Big mistake they got worse. Finally went to doctor and it took about 3 different meds to find the one that worked for me. It generally takes about a week for the meds to fully kick in and work and the dosage may need to be upped if the current dosage prescribed isn’t working. I had mine adjusted until i didn’t have a panic attack. I too went through the panic phase where I didn’t want to be alone because of the fear of having another panic attack and no one would be there. Its a lot of mental strength she’s got to use. The more she fears having a attack the more likely she’ll get one. When she feels one coming on tell her to physically tell herself she’s ok and keep her breathing deeply this tends to help because she’s focusing on something other than her panic attack. Another thing that worked for me that you might try is to put her in front of a fan or put a cool rag on the back of her neck. This is a scary situation and I am all to familiar with it. But she needs to know she’s not going crazy and that there is a way to get better. I have been off my meds for a year and haven’t had a attack. I hope this will help and wish your friend good luck.
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By: StarsHoney G

StarsHoney G — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:19:59 +0000

you can help her by always being there for her, knowing that she have someone who understands her and willing to protect her will make her feel relax. i know how hard it is coz i've been there. i used Vilift and it truly helped me.
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By: Pork & Beans

Pork & Beans — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:37:59 +0000

I suffer from anixety/panic attacks (2yrs) and I remember I never wanted to be alone but that was only in the streets. And it was mainly because I strongly felt that I was gonna pass out and didn’t want to be alone if I did. I seriously thought I was going insane, because the littlest things were becoming the hardest things for me to do. You just gotta be there for her, listen to her and her fears, comfort her, distract her and make her face her fear. She doesn’t want to be alone…leave her alone for a few minutes, have her walk around the block by herself. Tell her that even though it sounds crazy, she needs to tell herself that she’s in no real danger, she’ll be fine and that this feeling will pass. This is what my family and friends have done for me and it helped a lot. I still get panic attacks out of nowhere and I already tell myself it’s going to pass and I get distracted. It’s hard but it can be done.
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By: tigger_bounce_91

tigger_bounce_91 — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:20:59 +0000

I have panic attacks a lot. The best thing to do is to lay down, and clear your mind. Take deep breaths and feel your heart rate start to slow down and stop thinking about whatever made you panic. Once I’m finally less panicky I try to think about why I panicked and justify why there is no reason to worry about it any longer and come up with a list of reasons. You should’nt have to be around you friend to help them through it, its something she has to learn to cope with alone. I dont take medication put there is an herbal supplement called st. johns wort that i take occasionally if i cant sleep or panic and i highly doubt it does anything, but the placebo effect is nice lol
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myself

By: Peridot

Peridot — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:14:59 +0000

my boyfriend has panick attacks all the time. i just hold him and comfort him. make sure he takes slow deep breaths. i tell him i love him he likes that. be with her sometimes but let her alone too. ease her into being alone again. my boyfriend doesn’t want me to leave him ever.
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By: knowitall36

knowitall36 — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:51:59 +0000

i have no idea if this is normal for panic attacks but trust your intuition. if you feel she shouldn’t be left alone, then don’t. work with her doctor. ask the doc how you can help. also keep talking to her in a calm, relaxed manner. it also helps when you massage the point between her thumb and forefinger. it can make anyone relax.

good luck with your friend.
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By: edgardo53@verizon.net

edgardo53@verizon.net — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:02:59 +0000

Several kinds of counseling are very effective in treating panic attacks and panic disorder. You can ask your doctor about the different kinds of counseling that are available. Counseling does not work as fast as medicine, but it can be just as effective. The combination of both counseling and medicine seems to be an effective treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder.Several medicines can make panic attacks less severe or stop them altogether.

Paroxetine (brand name: Paxil) and sertraline (brand name: Zoloft) are antidepressant medicines that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat panic disorder. Antidepressants are very effective in preventing anxiety and panic attacks. Often they completely stop the attacks. You don’t have to be depressed for them to help. Side effects are usually mild. Antidepressants will not make you lose control or change your personality. These medicines can be used for as long as necessary, even for years.Alprazolam (brand name: Xanax) and clonazepam (brand name: Klonopin) are also medicines approved by the FDA to treat panic disorder. These medicines give relief from fear and anxiety. They should be used only for a short period of time (a few weeks to a few months), unless you absolutely can’t function without them. Never suddenly stop taking one of these medicines. If you need to stop, these medicines should be slowly tapered off over several weeks under your doctor’s supervision.
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By: Emz

Emz — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:21:59 +0000

mine used to be triggered by loud noises, and yelling.
i immediately felt safe every time i went into a hospital, and i went to the clinic so many times they eventually banned me from going there because they couldn’t help me.
i’d say get her to go outside, mine just eventually went away as i grew older. If she doesnt want to be alone, dont let her be alone! Get one of her friends to come over… family… it will go away, trust me. Yeah I’d say it’s normal.
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